Through the Year With Famous Authors Part 28

PIERRE CORNEILLE, the ill.u.s.trious French dramatist, was born at Rouen, June 6, 1606, and died in Paris, September 30, 1684. He wrote: "The Gallery of the Palace," "The Lady's Maid," "Melite," "The Widow," "The Palais Royal," "Medea," "The Dramatic Illusion," "Pompey," "The Liar,"

"The Sequel to the Liar," "Cinna," "Horace," "Theodore," "Polyeucte,"

"Don Sancho," "The Golden Fleece," "The Cid," etc., etc.

There is no such thing as abstract liberty; it is not even thinkable. If you ask me, "Do you favor liberty?" I reply, "Liberty for whom to do what?"

"The Shadow on the Dial,"--_Ambrose Bierce_.

AMBROSE BIERCE, a noted American author and journalist, was born in Ohio, June 6, 1842, disappeared in 1913. His best known works are: "In the Midst of Life," "Shapes of Clay," and "Can Such Things Be?" His "Collected Works," in 12 volumes, were published 1909-1912.

Beddoes was, so to say, saturated with the spirit of the Elizabethan Dramatists, and cast his poetry for the most part into Elizabethan forms.

A Poetry Book, Second Series, "The Modern Poets," p. 322, _note_,--_Amelia B. Edwards_.

AMELIA BLANDFORD EDWARDS, a celebrated English novelist and Egyptologist, was born in London, June 7, 1831, and died April 15, 1892.

She has published: "My Brother's Wife," "Hand and Glove," "In the Days of My Youth," "A Thousand Miles up the Nile," etc.

I studied the great art of fiction closely for fifteen years before I presumed to write a word of it.

--_Charles Reade_.

CHARLES READE, a renowned English novelist, was born at Ipsden, June 8, 1814, and died April 11, 1884. Among his numerous productions are: "Peg Woffington," "It's Never Too Late to Mend," "The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth," "The Double Marriage; or White Lies," "Hard Cash," "The Cloister and the Hearth," "Foul Play," "Put Yourself in His Place," "A Terrible Temptation," "A Simpleton," "A Woman Hater," etc.

His plays include: "Gold," "Masks and Faces," "The Courier of Lyons,"

"Two Loves and a Life," "The King's Rivals," etc.

'Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home; A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there, Which sought through the world is ne'er met with elsewhere.

An exile from home splendour dazzles in vain, Oh, give me my lowly thatched cottage again; The birds singing gayly, that came at my call, Give me them, and that peace of mind dearer than all.

"Home Sweet Home," from the opera "Clari, the Maid of Milan,"--_J. Howard Payne_.

JOHN HOWARD PAYNE, an American dramatist and author, was born in New York City, June 9, 1792, and died in Tunis, Africa, April 10, 1852. His fame rests upon the celebrated lyric "Home, Sweet Home," introduced in his drama, the "Maid of Milan." His other plays are "Brutus,"

"Virginius," and "Charles II."

While black with storms the ruffled ocean rolls, and from the fisher's art defends her finny shoals.

--_Sir Richard Blackmore_.

SIR RICHARD DODDRIDGE BLACKMORE, a renowned English novelist, was born in Longworth, Berkshire, June 9, 1825, and died January 22, 1900. Some of his well-known novels are: "The Maid of Sker," "Cripps the Carrier,"

"Clara Vaughan," "Sir Thomas Upmore," "Alice Lorraine," "Christowell,"

"Spring-haven," "Erema," "Mary Anerley," and his most celebrated novel, "Lorna Doone."

By the flow of the inland river, Whence the fleets of the iron have fled, Where the blades of the grave-gra.s.s quiver, Asleep are the ranks of the dead;-- Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the Judgment Day: Under the one, the Blue; Under the other, the Gray.

"The Blue and the Gray,"--_Francis Miles Finch_.

FRANCIS MILES FINCH, a noted American poet and judge, was born in Ithaca, N. Y., June 9, 1827, and died in 1907. He is the author of the well-known lyrics, "Nathan Hale," and "The Blue and the Gray."

Some very dull and sad people have genius though the world may not count it as such; a genius for love, or for patience, or for prayer, maybe. We know the divine spark is here and there in the world; who shall say under what manifestations, or humble disguise!

--_Anne Isabelle Thackeray_.

LADY ANNE ISABELLE (THACKERAY) RITCHIE, a distinguished English miscellaneous writer, was born in London, June 9, 1838, and died in 1919. She has written: "Old Kensington," "Toilers and Spinsters," "Miss Angel," "Bluebeard's Keys," "Mme. de Sevigne," "Lord Tennyson and his Friends," "Records of Tennyson, Ruskin, and Browning," etc.

Also, I think that good must come of good, And ill of evil--surely--unto all-- In every place and time--seeing sweet fruit Growth from wholesome roots, and bitter things From poison stocks; yea, seeing, too, how spite Breeds hate, and kindness, friends, and patience, peace.

--_Edwin Arnold_.

SIR EDWIN ARNOLD, the famous English poet and journalist, was born in Rochester, June 10, 1832, and died in 1904. His greatest works are: "Indian Idylls," "Pearls of the Faith," "The Light of the World,"

"j.a.ponica," "The Tenth Muse and Other Poems," "Sa'di in the Garden,"

and his most famous work: "The Light of Asia, a Poetic Presentation of the Life and Teaching of Gautama."

Shall I, wasting in despair, Die because a woman's fair?

Or make pale my cheeks with care, 'Cause another's rosy are?

Be she fairer than the day, Or the flowery meads in May, If she be not so to me, What care I how fair she be?

"The Shepherd's Resolution,"--_George Wither_.

GEORGE WITHER, a celebrated English poet and soldier, was born at Brentworth, June 11, 1588, and died in London, May 2, 1667. Among his writings are: "Fidelia," "The Shepherd's Hunting," "Hymns and Songs of the Church," "The Motto," "Abuses Stript and Whipt," and his best-known song, "Shall I, Wasting in Despair."

In lang, lang day o' simmer, When the clear and cloudless sky Refuses ae wee drap o' rain To Nature parched and dry, The genial night, wi' balmy breath, Gars verdure spring anew, An' ilka blade o' gra.s.s Keps its ain drap o' dew.

"Its Ain Drap o' Dew,"--_Ballantine_.

JAMES BALLANTINE, a noted Scotch poet, was born in Edinburgh, on June 11, 1808, and died December 18, 1877. His poetical works include: "The Gaberlunzie's Wallet," "One Hundred Songs," etc.

All things change, creeds and philosophies and outward systems--but G.o.d remains.

"Robert Elsmere," Book IV, Chap, xxvi,--_Mary Augusta (Arnold) Ward_.

MRS. HUMPHRY WARD (MARY AUGUSTA ARNOLD), a famous English novelist, was born at Hobart Town, Tasmania, June 11, 1851, and died in 1920. She has written: "Milly and Ollie," "Miss Bretherton," "Robert Elsmere," "The History of David Grieve," "Marcella," "The Story of Bessie Costrell,"

"Sir George Tressady," "Eleanor," "Lady Rose's Daughter," "The Marriage of William Ashe," "Fenwick's Career," "Diana Mallory," "Daphne,"

"Canadian Born," "England's Effort," "Towards the Goal," "Missing," etc.

The poems of Alfred Tennyson have certainly much of the beauty of a long-past time; but they have also a life so vivid, a truth so lucid, and a melody so inexhaustible, as to mark him the poet that cannot die.

"A History of the Thirty Years' Peace," A.D. 1815-1846, Vol. IV. p. 436--_Harriet Martineau_.